10/09/2026
I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, and I still don’t know where I land.
As a mother and a photographer, I obviously believe we have a responsibility to protect children online. I’ve even photographed faceless campaigns for brands because of that exact concern.
But I also don’t think this conversation is as simple as, “Parents just want content.”
Children have always been part of public and cultural life. They’ve existed in family photographs, advertising, magazines, television, art, school communities and everyday life.
And now social media is a huge part of that public space too.
So I keep wondering: if the answer to misuse becomes removing children completely, what does that mean for how we represent real family life, motherhood and childhood?
Do we eventually end up seeing more AI-generated versions of children than real ones?
I’m not arguing that we should share everything. Children deserve privacy, boundaries and protection. And there are absolutely things that should never be posted.
I’m questioning whether the only ethical answer is to share nothing.
This is genuinely an ongoing thought process for me. I don’t have a neat answer, and I’m still trying to work out where protection ends and fear begins.
I’d really love to hear how other people are navigating this.
Has your thinking around showing children online changed?
